What is the latent heat of evaporation indicated in the Steam Tables?

The latent heat of evaporation is specifically defined as the amount of heat energy required to convert a unit mass of a substance from a liquid to a vapor at a constant temperature and pressure. In the Steam Tables, this value is crucial for understanding how much energy is needed for the phase change from liquid to gas without changing the temperature of the substance.

When a substance, such as water, undergoes evaporation, it absorbs heat, which is why it requires a considerable amount of energy to affect this change. This concept of latent heat is essential in refrigeration and heating systems, as it impacts calculations regarding energy transfer, efficiency, and system performance.

The other terms listed, such as specific heat and latent heat of fusion, refer to different types of heat energy involved in phase changes or temperature changes. Specific heat pertains to the energy needed to change the temperature of a substance without phase change, while latent heat of fusion describes the heat required for a substance to transition from solid to liquid. Understanding these distinctions highlights the unique role of latent heat of evaporation in both thermodynamics and practical applications in refrigeration technology.